It was a black Friday at the Tincan Island Port yesterday as two clearing agents lost their lives and several vehicles destroyed over a misunderstanding resulting from a minor car brush.
According to an eye-witness report, the two unidentified agents who were driving towards the PTML Terminal from the Tincan Port Second Gate Round About at about noon, picked up a fierce quarrel after one of them hit the other’s car from behind, brushing off the bumper.
As the quarrel heated up, the agent whose car was hit was said to have forcefully obtained a dagger from a naval officer who was with him in his car at the time of the accident and stabbed the other man twice. He was said to have collapsed and died at the spot before he could receive any help.
But the killer-agent got more than he asked for as angry clearing agents around premises meted out the jungle justice on him, beating him to death and leaving two corpses on the ground. They also went on rampage in search of the naval officer who was alleged to be a friend of the killer-agent, destroying more cars after setting the killer-agent’s car ablaze.
The unfortunate naval officer, whose name was withheld was said to have disappeared as the matter got out of hand.
Port Police Commissioner, Mr. Charles Abutu, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, however said an investigation on the matter has commenced.
Meanwhile, naval spokesman, Commodore Kabiru Aliyu, told LEADERSHIP that the killer-agent was not a friend to the naval officer as the agents claimed, but had only given him a lift by his car.
“I had to leave Calabar because of this incident and I have received details of the incident as regards the naval officer. The naval officer is not a friend to the agent who killed his colleague. The agent was only giving him a lift at that time.
The naval officer does not know him from anywhere,” Commodore Aliyu told our correspondent through the telephone yesterday.